Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Fox Home Entertainment – 93 minutes – 1990 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.35:1 – DTS-HD Lossless 5.1 Audio Mix

Stallone and Schwarzenegger ruled the action hero genre in the late 80’s and early 90’s, but as they became more and more expensive to afford, Hollywood began looking for more reasonably priced action heroes to fill in the gaps. Jean-Claude Van Damme did his best but fizzled fast, and long with him another badass emerged named Seagal…Steven Seagal. No one knows where he came from, but he just seemed to appear out of nowhere in 1998’s Above the Law, which became a hit. Seagal declared himself the new action hero king and because he was skinny (uh…he was then), tall, and had a cool pony tail…audiences accepted it. With the exception of his best film, Under Siege, he always played the cop that kills first and asks questions later. His third film, 1990’s Marked for Death, follows this format to a T and is for the first time available on Blu-ray courtesy of the Fox.

THE MOVIE

The plot is as super simple, centering around a hard ass Chicago DEA named John Hatcher (Mr. Seagal) who is involved in a drug sting in Columbia that goes really bad and his partner is killed. Hatcher can’t deal with the pain and decides to quit the force and go back to his hometown to be with his family. Unfortunately his old neighborhood has now been taken over by a Jamaican drug posse that uses extreme violence (and of course voodoo) to control their turf. Hatcher ignores this until his own niece is seriously wounded in a drive-by meant to terminate him, and he drops the peace act to unleash a furious can of whip-ass to eliminate the gang.

Directed by Dwight H. Little (who also helmed Free Willly 2), Marked for Death throws every cliché and stereotype at you in a 93 minute time frame. The Jamaicans are made to look ruthless and evil with no remorse and look like a bunch of alien Predators when they are together. Seagal’s family is super white bread and innocent, and of course he has a black cop friend/sidekick played by character actor Keith David. As long as you can accept all this, and it would help if you’re a fan of Seagal, you can have a lot of fun with this movie.

The best thing about this film is that at least Seagal was skinny and it was somewhat believable that he can do those martial arts moves and no one could kick his ass. If you’ve seen Mr. Seagal lately you know this is no longer a reality, unless he falls on you. Oddly his follow-up to this film was 1991’s Out for Justice, (man Seagal loves those three word titles…Above the Law, Hard to Kill) where he basically plays the same character with a different name. Under Siege (a two word title…finally) is the one time where he gets it right, because yes it’s Die Hard on a boat, but it works for him and he should have stayed on this path and stop eating those belly popping late night snacks.

Whether or not this Blu-ray is for you is based upon whether or not you like Seagal, or if you just want to reminisce to time in the 90’s when action heroes were small on talk and big at popping caps in the bad guys. Seagal will never be an A-list action hero again, so no matter what his 90’s action films are major nostalgia. And for his next generation of fans, this guy seems to pump out a new straight to video bad action flick every month. Do you need the cash that bad Mr. Seagal?

VIDEO

Wow this film is twenty years old, but it actually doesn’t look that bad on Blu-ray with a 1080p image in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Colors look good, but flesh tones seems to be a little on the reddish side. Blacks are actually well balanced, most likely because of the film stock used that holds up with the transfer. Overall, the image quality won’t blow you away, but if all you have is an old DVD, it’s definitely a step up.

AUDIO

Fox provides a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that does the trick without the bells and whistles. Seagal’s muffled voice is acceptable, but when the Jamaican characters are saying their cliché lines you may have no clue what’s going on and may want to click on the subtitles. Action sounds such as gunfire, explosions and screeching cars are basic, but all the reggae music sounds great.

EXTRAS

Nada…Zilch…Zip. Shame on you Fox for not showing love to Mr. Seagal.

BOTTOM LINE

Like all Steven Seagal films, marked for Death is a guilty pleasure. This Blu-ray was is in no way Hi-def show off material, and falls into the basic catalog title slot. You’ll have fun just as long as you don’t take it seriously at all, and for those hardcore fans who want to upgrade their old Marked for Death DVD, this one is for you.

SCORES (out of 5):

The Movie:      2.5

Video:             3.0

Sound:             3.0

Extras:             0.0

Bottom Line:   2.5

Reviewed by Daniel Taveras

Release: March 19, 2010 (limited)

1 hr. 40 min.

PG-13

Directed By:  Raymond De Felitta

Andy Garcia

Julianna Margulies

Steven Strait

Emily Mortimer

City Island knew it had charm before it even completed casting.

No doubt the director, producers, and actors all collectively gave the film’s 35mm reels a great big Bronx hug before shipping them off to theaters; waving goodbye with deep grins as the trucks clunked away.

Andy Garcia probably carried around the script as if it were his own child.  He watched over it, kept it clean, and displayed a vast amount of pride when it grew up and went out into the cinematic world.  Writer-Director Raymond De Felitta put all his personality and love into this picture.  You could fool me into believing the adorably twisted people inhabiting the film were his actual relatives.  His story of a less-than-functional family bleeds authenticity.  Though the cast looks like a grocery list of indie cinema’s top of the line bit players, they feel very rooted in their roles.  Garcia’s character, Vince Rizzo, is all parts doof.  Loveable, tough guy doof.

Vince Rizzo comes from a long line of clam diggers; a community of homegrown fishing folk who live and breath off the land, and take pride in their oft-unacknowledged blue-collar work.  He’s a prison guard (err…corrections officer) who harbors a furtive passion for the performing arts and bogus adoration for poker. His dangerously unknowing wife, Joyce (Julianna Margulies), assumes his fictional poker nights conceal something much worse.  Margulies cuts through her lines, like a razor with an acidic tip.  A woman scorned indeed.  Rizzo’s daughter, Vivian (played by Garcia’s actual daughter, Dominik Garcia-Lorido) strips on the side, and to complete the dysfunction, Vince Jr. ( Ezra Miller), embraces the cliché American teenage lifestyle of sexual attraction to immense overeating.

It turns (oh, it always turns) when Vince brings home his illegitimate convict son, muscle-bound muscle sucker Tony Nardella (Steven Strait).  Tony grabs hold of the moral center of the film.  He’s the one character unafraid of secrets.  Do not doubt it:  This is a film about secrets.  What we keep from others and what we choose to tell, and how it will most likely get out, no matter how many locks we slam on the door.

Vince meets the lively Molly (Emily Mortimer) at his hush-hush acting classes and the two begin a strangely sweet emotional affair.  Emily Mortimer does cute, and does cute well.  Their scenes present the most satisfying pulp the movie has to offer.  Molly’s smartly written and on her toes, while Vince lumbers through the scenes with his own brand of endearing.

The film’s own Twitter account advertises itself as “the 2010 Little Miss Sunshine.”  That could be true, yes.  If done the way it should have been, that could have definitely been true.  What keeps City Island from lasting as a supremely important work is its refusal to finish its arcs.   The characters seem to stop short of their marks; cut off prematurely.  Instead of growing naturally and living in the picture space until their flaws have turned them around they hit their ultimate apex of ineptitude and stop right there.  With the exception of Vince, the “transformations,” aren’t convincing and flatten what are otherwise well written and interesting players.

Even with that, City Island is a film hard to hate.  The most stoic and cynical moviegoers will unquestionably crack a shifted grin.  Despite the dysfunction, it’s a picture with an inherently sweet disposition.

And that counts for something.

Bottom Line: 3.5/5.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Warner Home Entertainment – 99 minutes – 2009 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.35:1 – DTS HD Master 5.1 Audio Mix

Have you ever had the experience of watching a movie and saying to yourself, “why the hell am I watching this?” Well you may ask yourself this very question if you choose to watch Ninja Assassin, the latest film produced by the duo that brought you The Matrix.

Hey we all love ninjas, but something seriously went wrong here, and someone deserves to have some parts severed. If you’re curious, or if you’re one of those who believes that the Wachowski brothers, (uh, brother and sister now) can pump out another hit without Matrix in the title, Ninja Assassin is now available on Blu-ray from Warner Home Video, but proceed with caution because this one may hurt…a lot.

THE MOVIE

The plot of Ninja Assassin is simple…very simple. Raizo (played by Korean pop star Rain) was trained to be a deadly ninja from childhood as a part of the Ozunu Clan. When various underworld figures are being killed off one-by-one by in a manner only a ninja would use, a Europol agent named Mika (Naomie Harris) begins to investigate the murders, which makes her the target of the vicious clan. She is saved by a loner who also possesses these same ninja fighting skills and learns that he is also looking for the Ozunu Clan seeking his final revenge against his former master, Lord Ozunu (Sho Kosugi).

Ninja Assassin, directed by James McTeigue (who helmed V for Vendetta), has stylized fighting, sliced body parts, and blood galore, but still fails to hold your attention. The fight scenes are so over the top and laced with CGI effects that they fail to amaze you. Martial arts movies capture you because of the awesome moves the fighters are doing, not effects that cheapen the shot. Just imagine if Enter the Dragon or Fist of Fury displayed Bruce Lee using computer animated nunchucks?

This is Rain’s first starring role in a movie, and he gets props for working on his body, but other than looking the part, he has no on camera appeal or charm. Unless you’re a teenage girl who’s a fan of his music, and just wants to see him run around with no shirt on, there’s no other reason to believe in this guy. But it’s not all his fault, because the script is so anemic that there’s no meat for anyone in this film to chew on.

Basically, all you’re getting here is plenty of senseless fight scenes strung together with fast paced editing and a script than could have been written on the inside of a matchbook cover. And let’s face it with a film like Ninja Assassin maybe wanting something more solid is asking too much. Most martial arts films don’t really offer much of a plot anyway, so in that sense this film is just following the template. But at the same time you shouldn’t just accept mediocre because that’s all that’s offered to you. To sum it up, if you just want to see some videogame fight scenes and nothing else, then Ninja Assassin will satisfy you, but if you dare want something more, there are always plenty of old school martial arts films available at any video store that will easily blow this one out of the water.

VIDEO

What it lacks in quality, Ninja Assassin definitely makes up for in visuals, providing a full 1080p image in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. With its colorful cinematography this film delivers the kind of image you expect from a Blu-ray. Skin tones are perfect and blacks stand strong, which is paramount for a film like this where most of the action takes place in the dark. The one issue that takes away from the visual splendor is all the CGI blood that looks so bad. What’s wrong with standard blood packs? It worked for movies for all these years. Overall, visually this film is a winner.

AUDIO

Offering a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound mix, Ninja Assassin sounds great allowing you to hear every slice and dice of the of a ninja’s sword, and blood splattering as it hits the ground. Dialogue sounds fine, but you’re not watching this film for its memorable lines, you’re watching it for the action. Sound enthusiast will be happy with this Blu-ray’s use of all speaker positions, which delivers the full cinema effect. Like the visuals, the sound makes what could’ve been a worse viewing experience tolerable.

EXTRAS

Looks like no one had faith in this film, because the bonus features seem more forced and definitely anemic. And of course, the Wachowskis do not make their presence known in any way, shape or form.

‘The Myth and Legend of Ninjas’ is the only decent thing in the batch, looking at the history of Ninjas. If you’re a fan of these mysterious soldiers of the night, this is a must see.

‘Training Rain’ is a fluff piece on Korea’s biggest pop star Rain, and the training he went through for the film.

‘The Extreme Sport of a Ninja’ is an on the scene look at the stunts and choreography of the movie.

Four deleted scenes don’t add anything to this movie, but since you have the disc, you might as well watch them just to say you did.

BOTTOM LINE

Ninja Assassin is not going to ever win any awards, but as long as you don’t expect much, maybe you’ll at least enjoy the fight sequences. The Blu-ray delivers great picture and sound, so if that’s what you’re looking for you’ll be satisfied. Unless you’ve seen this in theaters and loved it, you should rent Ninja Assassin and then decide if it’s worth the dead presidents.

SCORES (out of 5):

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 2.0

Bottom Line: 2.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Fox Home Entertainment – 123 minutes – 2004 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.85:1 – DTS Lossless 5.1 Audio Mix

Sometimes you watch a film not expecting much, and then by the time it’s over you understand why you love movies. Fortunately, Sideways is one of those films, mainly because it’s not about our planet self-destructing, zombies, transforming robots, or giant blue creatures, it’s simply about people like you and me. Sideways is the definition of why sometimes simple is better and more satisfying. For those of you who have never seen the film, or just to refresh yourself on how good it is, Sideways is available on Blu-ray from Fox Home Entertainment, so hold up that wine glass and enjoy.

THE MOVIE

Call it a bromance, call it a buddy road trip, or you can call it both as two friends, Miles (Paul Giamatti), a depressed divorcee who can’t even get his novel published, and Jack (Thomas Haden Church), a wild guy who’s just out to have fun, drive to Santa Barbara’s vineyards on a quest for good wine and women. Jack, a has-been actor, is days away from getting married, but wants to have an eleventh hour fling or two. Miles tries to fight his self-battering when he meets a waitress in town named Maya (Virginia Madsen), who he surprisingly has a lot in common with. Jack, on the other, hand begins to court a townie named Stephanie (Sandra Oh), but after she learns about his fiancée things quickly turn sour. Things get really complex when all the wine and women mix together, causing a shattering effect that can damage Jack and Miles’ friendship forever.

Sideways works because all the pieces fit together nicely, starting with excellent direction from Alexander Payne, followed by a well adapted screenplay by Payne and Jim Taylor, and topped off with a solid cast, which all results in filmmaking perfection. The on-screen chemistry between Paul Giamatti and Thomas Hayden Church is priceless, which makes you want to replay scenes just to see them going at it again. We all know guys like this, or may be just like one of them, a quality that compliments the film even more. These are real guys, not the ‘always ready with a witty one-liner’ type who seem to dominate comedies now. Also, the female characters played by Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen are not just the typical objects of desire for these guys, they are both centered women who know exactly what they want, making them more focused than the guys that pursue them.

A movie like Sideways comes along few and far between, but when it does you harness it for all it has. Many have said they would like to see a sequel to this film just to see what has become of Miles and Jack. Being that lesser films get sequels, it would be interesting of Alexander Payne and his ensemble reunited for a follow-up. But realistically this probably will never happen, which is fine, because it’s always best not t tamper with perfection.

VIDEO

Offering a full 1080p image in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, Sideways has a simple look that is reminiscent of an older 60’s and 70’s movie, which works perfectly. Flesh tones look good and colors are balanced, but the overall soft look (which was purposely done) does not deliver the hi-def picture that you’re used to seeing on a Blu-ray. But if you look at this compared to the standard DVD, you will see that the difference is obvious because the Blu-ray delivers a much more solid picture. If you’re thinking of an upgrade, definitely do it.

AUDIO

The Blu-ray features a Dolby Digital 5.1 DTS-HD audio mix that does a fine job, allowing you to hear every line of dialogue crystal clear. This is not a heavy sound effects film so the center speaker is the only one in the batch that will get a workout. It’s nothing fancy, but it gets the job done well.

EXTRAS

This is a straight port from the DVD, so if you were thinking up upgrading you will not be missing anything.

The stars of the film Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church provide a great audio commentary track, because these guys have such good on screen chemistry that it rolls over perfectly with their tales of making the movie. This is definitely worth listening to.

There are seven deleted scenes that run a little over fifteen minutes. A few work but it’s obvious why the majority were cut out. Overall, it’s worth checking out.

A way too short making of featurette is more fluff than information, and does not compliment the film. You’re better off just skimming through this and instead listening to the audio commentary track.

BOTTOM LINE

Sideways is one of those films that doesn’t come around very often, so you have to harness it. With a great cast, script, and direction this one is not to be missed. The Blu-ray offers good image and sound quality, but the only notable bonus feature is the audio commentary track by the stars of the film. If you’ve never seen Sideways, do yourself a favor and check it out; and if you’re already a fan this one is a must own.

SCORES (out of 5):

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 3.5

Sound: 3.5

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 3.5

 Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Summit Entertainment – 131 mins – 2008 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.78:1 – Dolby Digital DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

There have been a good number of films about the war in Iraq, but none of them have stuck to audiences or received high praise from critics. After many attempts one movie has actually managed to do both, as well as receive the highest honor, an Academy Award nomination for best picture. The Hurt Locker directed by one of my favorite underrated directors, Kathryn Bigelow, has beat the odds and long after the war is over it will be remembered as one of the best movies on the subject. If you haven’t seen it yet, The Hurt Locker is available on Blu-ray courtesy of Summit Entertainment, and it is definitely worth your viewing attention.

THE MOVIE

The best thing about The Hurt Locker is that it does not have an A-list star attached, so instantly you have no expectations of what the outcome will be. The film takes place in Irag in 2004 following an explosive disposal unit that has just suffered a loss of their main bomb technician due to a situation gone wrong. After the loss, Sgt. William James (Jeremy Renner) is given the position, leading a group of disarmament experts who are doing the most dangerous job in the war. Sgt. James is a rebel and does not follow the rules, making the men on his team, Sanborn and Eldridge (Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty) very cautious of him. Tension between the men deepens as Sgt. James’ takes more and more risks, putting them all in greater danger. But unlike Sgt. James these guys are both about to end their rotation and just want to careful and stay alive so they can go home.

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, probably one of the only female filmmakers who make action movies, (Point Break, Near Dark, Strange Days) The Hurt Locker, though offering plenty of intense action, is her most serious film to date, offering real characters who are unlike the typical rock-n-roll mavericks that were used to seeing in her movies. Where other war movies turn up the patriotic burner, The Hurt Locker just focuses on the war for what it is to the soldiers who are serving…it’s a job. These brave soldiers do things on a daily basis, risking their lives on the clock. There is a scene where a bomb that can take out ten city blocks has to be dismantled and these guys have no other choice but to do it. This is their job. It doesn’t matter how bad of a day you had at work, you’ll most likely never be in a situation where you have to deal with a bomb that can take out a half-mile radius. This is pure macho adrenaline, and Bigelow nails it perfectly.

The backdrop may be a sinister on-going war, but it’s the characters that make it work so successfully. Particularly Renner and Mackie, who are pitted against each other in two of the best performances on screen in 2009. The Hurt Locker does not have the action of other war films, but it doesn’t need it. Its action is in its realism, and highlights a part of the war that few ever even knew about. Fans of Kathryn Bigelow’s work will clearly see how she has evolved as a director, and anyone looking for a solid well acted and executed movie, The Hurt Locker should be on your list. Forget Avatar, The Hurt Locker should be best picture of the year.

VIDEO

The film is photographed with a documentary style, but not the typical ‘shakey-cam’ look, more of a well-balanced news doc meets gritty splendor. Offering a full 1080p image in a 1.78:1 frame the transfer looks amazing with purposely-muted colors to give the illusion of the burning sun. Flesh tones look good, displaying the sweat-soaked dirty faces of the soldiers, and details like uniforms soiled with sand jump out at you. This is a near flawless transfer that is a must for visual purist and will make you happy you own a Blu-ray player.

AUDIO

The Hurt Locker provides a Dolby Digital DTS-HD 5.1 Master audio track that will immerse you into the movie. Dialogue is clean, and background ambience makes situations tense, particularly when a bomb must be dismantled. When explosions do occur, instead of just going for a loud bang, emphasis to make the blasts more realistic is executed with absolute perfection. Like the picture quality, the sound design is top notch and will draw the viewer in.

EXTRAS

This film deserves much more bonus features than what is offered, but with the Oscar buzz, (and hopefully win) there may be an ultimate edition in the future.

Kathryn Bigelow and the film’s writer Mark Boal provide an audio commentary track, and it’s a good one, not only providing on the set tales, but also talk about what made Bigelow want to do this movie, and filming in a danger zone. Do yourself a favor and listen to this one all the way through.

The Hurt Locker: Behind the Scenes is a quick look at the making of the film featuring interviews from the filmmakers and cast. Running only 12 minutes, it feels like a tease for something that could have been much more informative, but keeps your fingers crossed for an ultimate edition with a better behind the scenes documentary.

Finally, there’s a gallery of images from the film as well as behind the scenes that run 23 minutes as a recording of a Q&A featuring Bigelow and Boal done after a screening of the film in London at the Institute of Contemporary Art.

BOTTOM LINE

The Hurt Locker is an excellent motion picture not only about the war, but also about how it affects the soldiers on both sides. The Blu-ray delivers top quality sound and audio, but the bonus features are limited, making you think there may be a double-dip in the works. Without a doubt this is Kathryn Bigelow’s best film and she will get the Academy award for best director this year. Do yourself a favor and ad this movie to your collection.

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 5.0

Video: 5.0

Sound: 4.5

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 4.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Universal Studios Home Entertainment – 104 mins – 2003 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.35:1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has made some seriously bad film choices lately, with embarrassing efforts such as Doom, Race to Witch Mountain, and the worse yet…Tooth Fairy. He was obviously the most serious choice to take the muscle bound action hero throne, since Stallone and Schwarzenegger were getting up there in age. He had a strong start with The Scorpion King, and in 2003 he did The Rundown, which was a solid adventure film that showed this guy had promise in this genre. While not a mega-hit, The Rundown had legs and received cult status. The Rundown is available on Blu-ray from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, so if you’re looking for some macho two-fisted action, get ready to Rock.

THE MOVIE

Dwanye Johnson plays Beck, a ‘bag man’ who has been hired by his boss Billy (William Lucking) to travel into the Amazon jungle to search and rescue his son Travis (Sean William Scott). Beck agrees to do it, just as long as this is his last job, because he wants to retire and use the money to open a restaurant. Beck travels to South America to a small town called Helldorado, a place run by a corrupt scoundrel named Hatcher (Christopher Walken). Travis is there trying to find an ancient artifact known as the Gato, which will bring whoever possesses it fortune and glory, and Hatcher is after it as well. Added into the mix is a local girl named Mariana (Rosario Dawson) who is out for her own aspirations, which makes the situation riskier. Beck now finds himself tangled in a web of danger, and even though he never uses a gun, anything else goes as he attempts to rescue Travis and get out off Helldorado alive.

Directed by Peter Berg, (who helmed Friday Night Lights and Hancock) The Rundown is well paced and knows exactly what it’s out to do. This film was made as a showcase for Dwanye Johnson to do his thing, and the cameo by Schwarzenegger in the opening scene proves this as Arnie passes the action hero torch to him by saying “good luck.” Johnson is the reason why this film is enjoyable, he has a charm a screen presence that makes you like and want him to win. There’s nothing new about The Rundown, because it’s a mixture of a dozen other better action films, but it’s still fun and it’s easy to see why the film has gained cult status.

If Johnson stayed on this path and looked for scripts that can showcase him in the same manner that The Rundown does, he wouldn’t be forced to play the Tooth Fairy now. If you’ve never seen The Rundown, it is definitely worth a look because of its solid cast, constant action and sense of humor. Maybe Johnson should think about re-visiting this character for a sequel, because sine he doesn’t have a Fast and Furious movie to run back to like Vin Diesel, he needs to get back to familiar territory to revive his fading movie career.

VIDEO

The Rundown hits Blu-ray with a full 1080p image in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and the transfer is actually really good. The Rundown benefits from its many outdoor jungle scenes that allow colors to pop offering plenty of detail. Skin tones can appear a little too reddish at times, but it fits with the style of the film. The image quality is super sharp allowing you to see every age line on Christopher Walken’s face whenever he has a close up. Those of you who like looking at Rosario Dawson will also be pleased because she has plenty of cleavage shots that ready for Blu-ray.

AUDIO

Offering a killer Dolby DTS Lossless Master 5.1 sound mix, The Rundown sounds great and is a huge leap over that DVD. There’s plenty of action, so all your speaker will get a workout, particularly the rear speaker because of all of the jungle ambience. Dialogue is clean and sound effects are nicely meshed to immerse you in the action. This one has all the audio bells and whistles you would expect from a Blu-ray, so crank up the speakers.

EXTRAS

All of the bonus features from the DVD have been ported over to this Blu-ray so you will have no issues with upgrading your disc, but they all still remain in standard definition. 

Two audio commentaries are available, one from director Peter Berg and the film’s star Dwayne Johnson. The second commentary track is from the producers Kevin Misher and Marc Abraham. Both tracks provide background information and on the set tales, but overall neither commentary will keep your finger off of the fast forward button.

There are five featurettes that clock in at a half an hour: ‘Rumble in the Jungle,’ ‘Running Down the Town,’ and ‘The Amazon-Hawaii Style,’ dive into the making of The Rundown with your basic on the set cast and crew interviews.

‘Walken’s World’ is a cool little segment on the man himself, Christopher Walken.

‘The Rundown Uncensored’ is barely worth watching, comprised of mock news clips.

Finally there are nine deleted/extended scenes.

BOTTOM LINE

The Rundown is definitely Dwayne Johnson’s best film to date, and though it’s full of clichés there’s a lot of fun to be had. Offering good picture quality and great sound this Blu-ray delivers. If you like this film and never owned the DVD, this is the way to go, all others should give it a rent first, but you’ll be surprised how it hooks you in.

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 3.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 3.5

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Fox Home Entertainment – 106 mins – 1994 – Rated PG – 1080p Widescreen 2.35: 1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

After the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Hollywood was looking for something else to fit in that molding that would sell, but nothing really caught on. In 1984 an adventure comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis called Romancing the Stone fit in nice enough to fill the void between Indiana Jones movies. And though it’s not the high-flying effects filled adventure that Indy is associated with, Romancing the Stone works on its own level and after 25 years is still and enjoyable film. Romancing the Stone comes to Blu-ray from Fox Entertainment, so hang on for the ride.

THE MOVIE

A successful romance novelist named Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner), is nothing like the heroines she creates in her books, and is actually single and depressed with nothing exciting going on in her life. This all changes when she receives a call from her sister desperately asking her to bring a package to Columbia. Learning that the package only contains a map, Joan is baffled but goes on the journey to help her sister who she fears is in serious trouble. As soon as she arrives in Columbia, he life is instantly in danger as a man named Zolo (Manuel Ojeda) begins to track her trying to get the map. An attempt on her life is foiled as she is rescued by a stranger named Jack T. Colton (Michael Douglas), and American who is hiding out in South America. Being that he knows the territory, Jack agrees to help Joan for a fee, but things get crazier as the they are both targeted by Zolo, as well as having to deal with the bumbling kidnappers who hold Joan’s sister captive (played by Danny DeVito and Zack Norman). A quest begins to see who can get to the spot that marks “X” on the map first to get the treasure and stay alive long enough to grab it.

Romancing the Stone is a fun film that is worth watching again every few years. This movie works because all of the elements that bind it blend so perfectly. First, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner make a great team, (and went on to make several other movies together including the sequel to Romancing the Stone). Next the script by Diane Thomas is so well crafted, and finally, the director (a then unknown) named Robert Zemeckis, who would later go on to direct such classics as Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, and Who Farmed Roger Rabbit, nails it from start to finish. Instead of making another Raiders of the Lost Ark clone like everyone else was attempting to do at the time, he delivered a experience that was fresh and fun.

Michael Douglas will always be remembered as Gordon Gekko from Wall Street, but his portrayal as burnout adventurer Jack T. Colton should also be noted as a standout, because he’s very likeable, but at the same time holds that dashing and rugged characteristic that makes a movie hero. Sure Indiana Jones could whip his ass, but Jack would charm his way out of the fight, which is what makes him hold his own. And Kathleen Turner who was the blonde movie babe of the early 80’s, goes from being a damsel in distress to a strong women who can go toe-to-toe with the best of them.

Anyone desiring to see a smart romantic-adventure comedy should do definitely give Romancing the Stone a look, and if you haven’t seen this film in a long time it is very much worth re-visiting. One interesting piece of trivia worth noting is that the role of Jack T. Colton was originally supposed to be played by Sylvester Stallone, who turned it down to do the horrific Rhinestone (where he sings). Just imagine if Stallone made Romancing the Stone and it was successful? We would definitely be seeing a fourth or fifth sequel by now.

VIDEO

For a film over twenty-five years old, Romancing the Stone’s image quality puts many newer Blu-ray releases to shame. Offering a full 1080p picture in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, Romancing the Stones delivers a great color palette that really stands out in the jungle and desert sequences. Flesh tones are sharp and blacks stand strong, and though there are hints of grain in the night sequences, overall this film looks great and is a big step up from your DVD and that faded VHS tape you have of the film somewhere sitting in an old box.

AUDIO

While the picture quality rocks, the sound quality leaves a lot to be desired. With a standard DTS Master 5.1 sound track, you never get the pop and boom that you would expect from a film such as this. Dialogue is well done and clear, but the use of background sounds and effects sounds flat. Sound enthusiast will wish that much more effort could have gone into re-mastering the audio, because that would have made the experience much more gratifying. Overall, the sound is acceptable, just without the bells and whistles.

EXTRAS

Everything from the DVD has been ported over to this Blu-ray, but a nice touch is that the deleted scenes have been up-converted to HD. There’s not a huge variety, but it’s better than some of those Fox Blu-rays that ship with no bonus features at all.

Rekindling the Romance: A Look Back is a twenty minute retrospective of the film featuring interviews with Micheal Douglas, Danny DeVito, Kathleen Turner, but oddly not the director who made it all work Robert Zemeckis. This mini-doc is worth a look for fans of the film, just don’t expect anything that stands out.

There are seven deleted scenes that are nice to see in HD, but it’s obvious why they were deleted, though they are all worth watching.

A small three-minute clip ‘A Hidden Treasure’ pays tribute to screenwriter Diane Thomas who unfortunately died in a car accident shortly after the success of the two Romancing the Stone films.

BOTTOM LINE

Romancing the Stone is an enjoyable film that still packs a punch after a quarter century. The Blu-ray offers an excellent picture, but the audio is more on the level of a standard DVD. This disc should be picked up by fans of the film, or anyone just looking for a fun romantic-comedy-adventure. Romancing the Stone is worth the ride.

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 4.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Fox Home Entertainment – 106 mins – 1995 – Rated PG – 1080p Widescreen 2.35: 1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

After Romancing the Stone was a big hit in 1984, there was no doubt a sequel would be in the works, but no one expected it to be so fast. Instead of the normal two to three year wait, a second movie was pushed out one year later in 1985. Unfortunately, the rush to theaters wasn’t worth it, because everything that made Romancing the Stone fresh and fun didn’t make it into the sequel. But for those of you who desire to see what happened to Jack and Joan, Jewel of the Nile is available on Blu-ray from Fox Home Entertainment.

THE MOVIE

For their second adventure Jack T. Colton (Michael Douglas) and Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner), are still romancing the stone, but as expected something goes wrong. Joan travels by herself to North Africa to write the biography a mystery man named Omar (Spiros Focas) who says he is about the become the Emperor, and is giving her to opportunity to tell his story. Quickly Joan learns she’s been duped and is sucked into a plot by a group of lethal radicals who are searching for the precious Jewel of the Nile, and they hold her captive. Back in the states, Jack has his own issues as he learns that Ralph (Danny DeVito) the bumbling hood from the first film is trying to get revenge on him for taking the fortune he believes he’s entitled to. Learning that Joan is in deep danger, he and Ralph team up and rush off to Africa. Jack goal is to save Joan and Ralph’s goal as usual is to find fortune and glory.

Jewel of the Nile is a perfect example of messing up a good thing, sort of like Porky’s 2: The Next Day. First the two key players who made the first film’s magic are not involved; director Robert Zemeckis and writer Diane Thomas (who tragically died in a car accident) have been replaced, and everything looks so rushed that it shows up on screen. Jokes that seemed natural in the first film are now forced and the action tries to outdo everything you seen in the original, but is not as satisfying.

Overall, Jewel of the Nile is not a disaster; it just needed more time to cook in the kitchen before being rushed onto the plate. Director Lewis Teague tries to hold things togther, but there are so many cracks that things get messy. Audiences didn’t hang on as long as they did for the original film, killing all hopes of a third adventure, which was planned. Instead the trio of Douglas, DeVito, and Turner re-teamed in the 1989 black comedy The War of the Roses. Jewel of the Nile is worth a look just for the hell of it, but if you really loved the first film you will definitely feel let down.

VIDEO

Romancing the stone looked great on Blu-ray, but Jewel of the Nile seems dull by comparison. Offering a full 1080p picture in a 2.35:1 frame, the film provides decent flesh tones but the colors are not as bright and strong as you would expect. Grain is heavy on this transfer, and more effort could have been made to clean up the image. Though the image quality is better than the previous DVD release, the leap is not that high.

AUDIO

Just like Romancing the Stone, the audio quality for Jewel of the Nile is disappointing. Though it provides a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 sound mix, none of this is fully taken of advantage of, so there are points particularly during action scenes such as the jet fighter sequence when things sound over modulated. Dialogue is clear and the music score by Jack Nitzsche sounds fine, but overall there’s nothing here that will make you want to crank up your speakers.

EXTRAS

The same bonus features from the DVD have been carried over to the Blu-ray, so if you’re interested in upgrading, you’ll get the same package.

Director Lewis Teague provides an audio commentary track that goes into his experience of making the film, and the pressure of delivering a sequel to a successful film.

Romancing the Nile: A Winning Sequel runs about twenty minutes and features interviews with the cast and crew. This is your basic behind the scenes stuff that you’ll watch once and it’s done.

Adventures of a Romance Novelist looks at the insertion of romance and adventure in the life of the fiction writer Joan Wilder.

Six deleted scenes are included, but there’s nothing that holds your attention.

Finally, the film’s original theatrical trailer is included, but unfortunately only in standard definition.

BOTTOM LINE

Jewel of the Nile definitely lacks the charm of Romancing the Stone, but it is entertaining in spots, and may satisfy those who just want to see Douglas and Turner on screen together again. The blu-ray itself is basic offering a standard picture and sound, but nothing that will make you want to place it high on your shelf. If you’re a collector who must own the sequels to every good film no matter what, then this one is for you. All others should rent it first to see if it’s worth buying.

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 2.5

Video: 3.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Universal Studios Home Entertainment – 98 mins – 2009 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 2.39:1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

After watching a wave of movies with explosions, car chases, shoot-outs, transforming robots, and aliens, it’s refreshing to watch a film that is simply about regular people. Away We Go is a small independent film that knows exactly what it is, and focuses on characters rather than flash and pizzazz, but don’t let this scare you because it has something to say, even if it does it quietly. Away We Go comes to Blu-ray from Universal Home Video, so if you’re looking for something mellow this one is for you.

THE MOVIE

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Maya Rudolf plays Verona, a young woman who is in a relationship with her boyfriend Burt (John Krasinski from NBC’s The Office). They discover that they are having a baby and with no money, nor steady careers have to figure a way to handle the blessed event. Instead of doing the standard pre-baby checklist, Verona and Burt instead go on a road trip to visit family and friends on a quest to figure out where they want to call home to raise their child. Through this they learn more about each other and what are the important things of life, beyond the typical.

Directed by Sam Mendes, who also directed the Oscar winning American Beauty, Away We Go is a slice of life drama that avoids the basic cut and paste romantic comedy guidelines, and instead turns the nine-month journey before the birth of their child into a character based adventure. There are quirky cameos by Catherine O’Hara, Jeff Daniels, and Jim Gaffigan, as well as a various other characters they meet while traveling, which provide comedic elements.

The best thing about Away We Go is that the Chemistry between Rudolph and Krasinski makes the film work because you never get sidetracked on what their true intentions are. These are real people and it’s easy to relate to their struggles, especially anyone who has recently become a new parent. The film is not for everyone, and many may find it quite dull, but for those that find a connection to it, Away We Go is a nice simple movie that feels right. And every now and then that’s more satisfying than a transforming robot anytime.

VIDEO

For a small film, Away We Go looks great on Blu-ray with a full 1080p image set in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Colors are strong and skin tones are smooth, allowing you to see every freckle on Maya Rudolph’s face. There are hints of grain, but nothing that takes away from the overall image quality. While not as sparkling as a big budget sci-fi film, Away We Go holds its own and should satisfy anyone looking for a nice picture.

AUDIO

Away We Go is a pure dialogue heavy film, so the Dolby DTS-HD 5.1 sound mix does the trick, offering a crystal clear track. Background noises are also nicely balanced, but don’t expect any other speaker but the forward one to get a workout. There’s nothing to complain about, because this is simple audio mix that does the job to draw you into the experience.

EXTRAS

Away We Go is a small indie film so don’t expect dual disc filled with bonus features and a hologram case. Instead, like the film the extras are simple offering an audio commentary and a short making of.

Director Sam Mendes sits down with the film’s writers Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida to provide an audio commentary track. These three get along very well offering on the set stories, as well as the origins of the script. If you enjoyed the film then the commentary compliments it.

‘The Making of Away We Go’ is presented in HD and is your basic quick behind the scenes package featuring interviews with the cast and crew. You’ll problem get more out of listening to the audio commentary track.

‘Green Filmmaking’ is exactly what it sounds like; a small piece that focuses on how the filmmakers used environmentally friendly efforts to make this movie.

BOTTOM LINE

Away We Go is a nice change of pace from the traditional Hollywood boom-bang fest, with real people like those you may actually know. The Blu-ray provides a nice picture and good sound, and makes the experience worth it. This may be a ‘chick-flick’ to most, but it’s worth a look and may pleasantly surprise you. Give it a try.

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 3.5

Video: 4.0

Sound: 3.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 3.0

Reviewed by Johnny McNair

Fox Home Entertainment – 89 mins – 1999 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.85:1 – DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

If you look up the term “cult film,” you will definitely see the poster for the 1999 film Office Space. Just like another cult film, Caddy Shack, fans of Office Space can recite every line, and imitate characters and scenes like they are right out of the bible. Everyone who has worked in a corporate office environment (and that’s a whole lot of us) can relate to the everyday shenanigans of feeling trapped like a rat in a maze. Office Space comes to Blu-ray from Fox Home Entertainment, so grab your Swingline stapler and mumble your best Milton Waddams impression because work has just begun.

THE MOVIE

Office Space is the story of Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) and co-workers Michael Bolton and Samir (David Herman and Ajay Naidu) who all hate their job, but are such slackers that instead of leaving, they just continue to be pawns in the corporate game of chess. Their boss Bill (Gary Cole) is a passive aggressive neanderthal who walks around holding a coffee cup all the time as he mentally tortures his employees, particularly the mumbling guy named Milton (Stephen Root) who is one step away from an office shooting. Peter hates his job, life and his girlfriend, and sadly his only thrill comes from going to a local restaurant to look at the new waitress Joanna (Jennifer Aniston).

Peter visits a hyper therapist, who ironically dies after putting him under, something that transforms him into a new man, and when he goes back to work he doesn’t take any of his superiors’ crap anymore and tells them the brutal truth about the lousy way they run their company and treat their employees. Instead of firing Peter, they do the opposite and promote him, but fire his friends. Seeking revenge, the three of them unite in a scheme to infect the company’s computer system with a virus that will shift a massive amount of cash into each of their accounts.

Written and directed by Mike Judge the creator of Beavis & Butthead, Office Space’s greatest strength is that so many people can relate to it and have fantasized about getting payback from the company that constantly screws them over. Then there’s the built in fan base who worship Mike Judge and have kept this film in circulation to spawn more and more new fans each year. Very few comedies can be labeled “smart” but Office Space fits because it avoids being raunchy and frat house to instead depend on everyday characters in situations that are easily identifiable.

For those of you who have never seen Office Space, you will be pleasantly surprised by how well structured it is, and after over a decade still locks into the current work environment. We all know or have worked with guys like this, every office has a Milton Waddams, and every office has a boss who walks around with a coffee cup looking over everyone’s shoulder. This is one of those rare films that whenever you’re flipping channels and it pops on, you’ll watch it again and find something new to laugh at. With all the come and go comedies that that were funny the first time you saw them, but don’t hold up after a second viewing, Office Space still feels fresh every time.

VIDEO

If you already own the DVD you will definitely want to upgrade to the Blu-ray that has a full 1080p image in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, because the picture quality is superb. Skin tones are excellent and the colors pop without any hints of bleeding. Obviously this is not the first film you would think of when showing off the wonders of high-def, but it does stand out. For a film over a decade old it looks as if this is a fresh release, so if you’re a fan and have a Blu-ray player, this is the way to go.

AUDIO

This one is all about the dialogue, so fortunately the provided Dolby Digital DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 mix is well tuned. Every mumble that Milton utters is crystal clear, as is all the dialogue, and ambient sounds are balanced nicely. Your forward speakers get most of the workout here, but moments will spark up your rear ones. Overall, this is a solid sound mix that should satisfy.

EXTRAS

All of the bonus features from the special edition DVD have been ported over so don’t expect any HD upgrades. Fans who desired a more updated retrospective will be disappointed.

‘Out of the Office’ is a half hour retrospective that features writer/director Mike Judge and the cast of the film including Gary Cole, Ron Livingston, John C. McGinley and Jennifer Aniston. This is the only worthy feature offered, but unfortunately it’s way too short and scattered.

Eight deleted scenes are fine to watch once, but nothing memorable.

Exclusive to Blu-ray are a few silly add-ons, such a trivia track that uses Post-Its, and games such as Grab the Stapler, Printer Beat Down, and Whack a Drone. None of these will hold your attention very long.

BOTTOM LINE

A decade from now people will still be quoting office space and there will be a 20^th Anniversary (whatever format has taken over then) Edition. This is the prefect Blu-ray for anyone who is looking to upgrade from the DVD and if you look around online it’s been seen as low as $12. Fans and newbies can’t seem to get enough of this movie, so like Caddy Shack before it; Office Space will live on and on and on.

SCORES: (Out of 5):

The Movie: 4.0

Video: 4.0

Sound: 4.0

Extras: 3.0

Bottom Line: 4.0